Help narrowing down a photographer!

[fatafelice]

Hiya, Ladies! This is my very first topic over here and I am hoping that ya''ll can help me out! My FI and I are getting married at the Deerpark Restaruant at the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC. I haven''t chosen the actual date yet, either 6/30/07 or 7/14/07 (7/7 was already booked

) and I thought that maybe checking with some photographers to see their availablity might help nail it down. But I have a few photographers to choose from. I haven''t actually contacted them yet, so this is preliminary, but any and all opinions are welcome! Thanks!

1. Audrey Goforth

2. Jonathan Burton

3. The Light (and his album design site has some complete albums to look at)

 

[dani13]

Hey FF!

I really like photographer # 2- I like his style more, but I tend to like the more "romantic" photographers, not the strictly photojournalistic ones, like # 3...they all look good though...just depends what type of shooting you like...

 

[Gypsy]

Okay I would definitely NOT go with number one. If those are her best pictures... the ones she is proudest of you''re in trouble. Number two was better... his use of light was very good in some pictures... but in others he was too focused on contrasts and light and not enough on his subject so that worried me. I''m not a big fan of the photojournalistic ones, but number three is actually good. Really takes care with his subjects, and the fact that he''s posted entire albums is key. It''s easy to take a few good shots (although not apparently for number one) but his albums are solid and from them I would say that of the three he would be my choice.

 

[fatafelice]

Thanks, Dani and Gypsy! I didn''t want to mention it before, but I have been leaning towards #2. My only hesitation is that he doesn''t show any whole albums, but I am sure if I make an appointment, he will be able to.

Interestingly, #1 is a very popular photographer for people at my venue! A few of the weddings they have done have been in The Knot, etc. (though I think you could say thesame for the other two as well...). But I agree that they are not my favorite.

I''d still love to hear more opinions if anone has time to check them out. I don''t know much about the technical details of photography, I just usually know what I like when I see it.

 

[lovelylulu]

hello! i think my favorite is also number 2, but i don''t have such strong feelings against the others. I personally prefer a photojournalistic approach, but i like that #2 really seems to take *beautiful* photos.

i went to school in n. carolina and absolutely love the mountains there!!! i''ve been to the biltmore a couple of times and it is gorgeous! we had so much fun at the winery. such a great choice

 

[Gypsy]

One thing to keep in mind is... you should be VERY comfortable with your photographer. If you hire that person, you should feel that you have a good 'click' and understanding going. PLUS... make sure it is in your contract that HE (or she) himself will be shooting your wedding and the name of the photpgrapher they will have cover in case of unforseen accidents. My photographers were a mother and daughter team. The mother's other daughter was a VERY incredibly good photographer who with her husband demanded prices TWICE what was the normal rate, because they were just that good. They were the ones promised to cover in case my actual photographers couldn't. You should always know the the contingency, AND make sure you approve of the contingency photographer. Me, half the time I was hoping something would go wrong and the contingency photographers would have to cover! LOL.

Oh, and PLEASE. Buy the book Bargain Bridals By Denise and Alan. Lots of good advice. If you haven't already that is.

 

[gingerBcookie]

i like #2 best, then am ambivalent between 1 and 3. def take a look at albums. i met with quite a few photogs and there were def some who had great shots on their website, but the albums as a whole were very blah.

 

[katrina_33]

Weird, I really like #1 the best off the bat! Loved all of the real weddings I looked through on her site!

 

[fatafelice]

Okay, I have found some more photographers and I am more confused than ever. I don''t want to have to make appointments to meet with 7 people -- I''d rather narrow it down to three or so. So if you have the time, tell me what you think of the ones on this list (two included from before). Which three do you like best? Any and all opinions welcome!

1. Jonathan Burton (haven''t recieved a reply to my first email)

2. Eric McCarty/The Light (see link above for album site) -- (very friendly and prompt reply to email)

3. Woodward & Rick (possibly my current favorite, but very $$$. Prompt reply to my first email)

4. Christopher Smith (only seems to offer standard size prints for the albums -- Is that usual?)

5. HH Fine Arts (packages seem $$$, but will do a custom package)

6. Kelly Giezentanner (not much on the site)

7. Michael Oppenheim (I''m iffy about this one)

 

[LAJennifer]

I think they all look nice! I''m sure any of them would produce a wonderful wedding album. What are their differences in costs? If they all cost the same, I would say number 2 and number 3 are my favorites.

 

[fatafelice]

Thanks for the feedback, Jennifer! It seems like you and I have similar taste in photography.

Number 3 is my current favorite, followed by 2, and then 1. I''m not sure about pricing for 1 yet, but he is sending the info. Number 3 seems to be the most expensive so far, but I''m not sure that 2 will be that much less (depends on the album). I''d really like to keep it around $4000 for everything, which I *thought* was a generous budget, but I am having a hard time. I just can''t stomache sacrificing quality for budget on this issue. Unfortunately, BF disagrees ...in theory. I have yet to sit him down and get him to look at some photos and think about what he likes and doesn''t. Maybe that will help him realize that this isn''t somewhere to make a big cut in the budget. He has said that he prefers the idea of a photog that is nearly invisible, which pushes me towards 2. Plus he has unlimited shooting on the day of the wedding, which is really appealing.